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by bonniesmom on 29 December 2010 - 23:12
My girl is 15 months old. She is from working lines. I have had her for 4 months. She is my dream dog- perfect ;loves the ball, learns quickly, perfect companion. She was a kennel dog before I got her. She stays outside in her kennel most of the day- but I bring her in to hang out with me in the evening. She has started to destroy the mattresses and couches over the last month. She is so quick she will be next to me and then have a stuffed chair shredded within 5 seconds. She is a bit quirky in the house- some times she hangs with me other times she will crawl into the open dryer- or tub to hide. She never wrecked furniture before. The first few months she would hang with me- sometimes get overwhelmed with the kids, other dogs, parrot etc- and go lay down upstairs in our bedroom. Now she acts fine- UNTIL she suddenly has shredded four mattresses, a love seat , a couch, upolstered dinning room chairs, and soon my marriage!!! Mind you this occurs while we are home and really watching her- she is just VERY quick. I really would love to be able to have her in the house. Can you help???
by hodie on 29 December 2010 - 23:12
How much serious exercise does this dog get? What do you give her to chew on? For now, I suggest you keep her on a leash, a short leash, tied to your belt. She goes nowhere without you. What have you done when you caught her destroying something? Does she have a crate where she can go to get out of the hubbub of the family? The open dryer door is VERY dangerous.......I suspect this dog is not getting sufficient exercise and may be getting too much stimulation of a different sort in the house......
Answer the questions posed and I may be able to give you some specific ideas about what to do.
Answer the questions posed and I may be able to give you some specific ideas about what to do.
by Princess on 29 December 2010 - 23:12
know you want help, but this is just gsd too funny, cant tell you the hoses ,stuffing in blankets sides of couches etc. I dont kennel exercise , walks, tire in trees, ball throwing,the list can go on, but a confined gsd is a unhappy dog. They are smart and will entertain themselves if you dont. Im home all day and they still do it ,but they will grow out of it if you can find a job for them, even it is just guarding the yard ,but being kenneled keeps them from their instincts. At 15 mths it is a teenage boy who is bored with all the trouble that that can get into .Mating and getting out is next , I hope she is fixed or company is coming. Im being cute as they are fun, but the work even with a house dog is alot, these dogs step it up a bit Have fun and laugh at what you cant control.
by bonniesmom on 30 December 2010 - 00:12
I play with her in the morning and at night- often mid day too- about a half hour each. Ball throwing, jumps, obediance- great fun quality time. I think perhaps with the holiday and work it might have been less during this period. Maybe it's that.
Tying her to my belt is a good idea- she will not be happy with it I'm sure.
She has a crate- that she can go into- but it's in the basement - she doesnt like it there- she rather go back outside to her kennel in the yard. But then she sits there looking like she wants to come in.
When i have caught her- I shout and put her in her crate in the garage. Then I go inside and cry- fyi.
The problem with this is how quick she can destroy - its actually quite amazing.
Did I mention that she can find a ball in three feet of snow- that was thrown a half hour prior- practically with her eyes closed!! She is a great little dog!
Tying her to my belt is a good idea- she will not be happy with it I'm sure.
She has a crate- that she can go into- but it's in the basement - she doesnt like it there- she rather go back outside to her kennel in the yard. But then she sits there looking like she wants to come in.
When i have caught her- I shout and put her in her crate in the garage. Then I go inside and cry- fyi.
The problem with this is how quick she can destroy - its actually quite amazing.
Did I mention that she can find a ball in three feet of snow- that was thrown a half hour prior- practically with her eyes closed!! She is a great little dog!
by hodie on 30 December 2010 - 00:12
The dog needs much more exercise for sure. Just playing ball is probably not enough, although it is good too. Are you in a place where you can jog with her (or you ride a bike and she trots along side)? Tying her to your belt is important. Also, giving her something she CAN chew on is also important. Get another crate and put it somewhere in the area where the people are. Shouting at her relieves you, but probably does nothing to teach her that what she is chewing is not allowed. You have to catch her just at the time she is thinking about taking that first chew or bite, tell her firmly "no" and then substitute something she can chew on.
Being able to find the ball is an important skill demonstration. If the weather is ok, it is not a bad thing either for her to be outside when you cannot supervise her more closely. She is still very young and hopefully with some encouragement, more and consistent exercise and teaching her what is allowed and what is not, will learn not to chew as she gets older. It would also make good sense to spend a lot more short sessions teaching obedience to her. If you need help with that, there are some others here too who will help.
By the way, there is a product called Bitter Apple that most dogs really dislike. On solid surfaces, you might spray a little of that on, but I am not sure what it might do to couch cushions and other fabrics....try it in an inconspicuous spot first.
Good luck.
Being able to find the ball is an important skill demonstration. If the weather is ok, it is not a bad thing either for her to be outside when you cannot supervise her more closely. She is still very young and hopefully with some encouragement, more and consistent exercise and teaching her what is allowed and what is not, will learn not to chew as she gets older. It would also make good sense to spend a lot more short sessions teaching obedience to her. If you need help with that, there are some others here too who will help.
By the way, there is a product called Bitter Apple that most dogs really dislike. On solid surfaces, you might spray a little of that on, but I am not sure what it might do to couch cushions and other fabrics....try it in an inconspicuous spot first.
Good luck.
by Teufel Hunde on 30 December 2010 - 01:12
I know it's not funny but I had to smile when I read your post. I cannot tell you how many couches,feather pillows,chairs,etc my guys (and fosters)have destroyed over the years. Mostly when they are pups/young adults and almost always out of the blue. My son's Shepherd ate so much furniture that I started putting signs on the stuff when I threw it away that said "bad dog" so people wouldn't think we actually lived and used furniture that was so tore up.Luckily they all grew out of that stage and adding a treadmill to the household did wonders when I couldn't get out to exercise them. I fortunately do not have a husband to deal with but I did have a hell of a time explaining to my mother where that beautiful custom made couch she passed down to me went to!!!LOL
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by Renofan2 on 30 December 2010 - 02:12
A" few years ago I got the bright idea to put a sofa in the basement for the dogs to hang out on. It lasted 1 day, lol.
by alboe2009 on 30 December 2010 - 05:12
WOW! I'm a firm believer that the first six months are so crucial to the making of the dog. Where was he the first 11 months? Was he kenneled? Outdoors? Allowed to do whatever he wanted? What's funny (not really though) is seeing what these dogs can do. And do it fast! My pups are only free in the house with me there. And 100% me. Can't be doing something, not watching them and then something happen and try to blame the pup.Too much energy. Crate him and have him in the same room with people/you. I hear you say "he won't be happy", but are you happy? NO. You come first,
Now, I'm not saying it's anybody's fault or pointing fingers. Texting/e-mails don't always say what you really want to say.( I'm only going by what I read). You're spending an hour and a half with some sort of physical energy activity. Not enough. This is a dog with unsurmountable levels of energy. If that is all you can do take one of those 30 mins and walk him for that time. Running will have to be conditioned but walking will tire him somewhat for now. Maybe have someone else walk or excercise if you're limited in doing so? When you say throwing a ball? Are you really running him, tongue hanging down to the ground or is it a short distance throww , play a little do it again? Get two balls, say kong balls, that will keep bouncing/rolling a good distance. Throw one hard/long to the left when he gets there make him run back towards you and while he drops the ball off in front of you you are throwing the second ball long/hard to the right. Keep doing this. A good distance if you can. 30 mins continuous of this activity will curb some of that energy. Depending on how you have bonded with him it's not a problem for him to be looking for you while he's in the kennel. No reason to feel guilty. Plant a tug post. 4X4 in the ground with a thick rope secured to a spring, secured to the post. My dogs and pup (she has her puppy tug post too) will spend hours "fighting" with the post. IF you can? Get another GSD to play with him, they'll use lots of energy together. Good luck!
Now, I'm not saying it's anybody's fault or pointing fingers. Texting/e-mails don't always say what you really want to say.( I'm only going by what I read). You're spending an hour and a half with some sort of physical energy activity. Not enough. This is a dog with unsurmountable levels of energy. If that is all you can do take one of those 30 mins and walk him for that time. Running will have to be conditioned but walking will tire him somewhat for now. Maybe have someone else walk or excercise if you're limited in doing so? When you say throwing a ball? Are you really running him, tongue hanging down to the ground or is it a short distance throww , play a little do it again? Get two balls, say kong balls, that will keep bouncing/rolling a good distance. Throw one hard/long to the left when he gets there make him run back towards you and while he drops the ball off in front of you you are throwing the second ball long/hard to the right. Keep doing this. A good distance if you can. 30 mins continuous of this activity will curb some of that energy. Depending on how you have bonded with him it's not a problem for him to be looking for you while he's in the kennel. No reason to feel guilty. Plant a tug post. 4X4 in the ground with a thick rope secured to a spring, secured to the post. My dogs and pup (she has her puppy tug post too) will spend hours "fighting" with the post. IF you can? Get another GSD to play with him, they'll use lots of energy together. Good luck!
by Penny on 30 December 2010 - 11:12
You obviously have a girl that is active in mind and body, and you have to match up to that. Added to that, she has not been with you in her formative months, so you have some-one elses input still there too.
This is just what I would do - it may help.
Her crate would come out of the basement, and be put in with part of the family. It would be locked when she is not in there and using it, and she would be given time in there, with a nice juicy bone when life at home was hectic, or she seemed to be getting stressed. I would let her know that the crate and bone go together, so that the crate is a comfort zone in the middle of all that is going on at home, and not a punishment for doing bad. Dont speak to her when in the crate, and dont let others fuss her through the witre either - its her zone, and her private place for looking and relaxing only. Not a punishment.
I would (if I could) ignore anything chewed - and blame it on myself for not being quick enough with her. Tying her to your belt can only be good, I got my little Border Terrier out of his hate of my cats this way... but I dont understand why she wouldnt like it, is she perhaps not in tune with you perfectly yet, most GSD`s would love to be tied to their owners...
I would be taking her out at least three times daily, and spend time off and on lead with her, running her, cycling with her, ball playing, giving her challenges i.e. 2 people, one hides in treelined safe area, she has to find them from a whistle.... obedience exercises with food as a reward ... things to exercise her mind and body at once.
I would look at her meals , what food do you feed her and when?
She needs the whole holistic job, as she sounds well screwed up in her little mind.
Have patience with her.
Think if you had moved from a humble house with no joys - to a palace with all the joys you wanted... you would abuse some of them, and thats where she is I think coming from Mo.
This is just what I would do - it may help.
Her crate would come out of the basement, and be put in with part of the family. It would be locked when she is not in there and using it, and she would be given time in there, with a nice juicy bone when life at home was hectic, or she seemed to be getting stressed. I would let her know that the crate and bone go together, so that the crate is a comfort zone in the middle of all that is going on at home, and not a punishment for doing bad. Dont speak to her when in the crate, and dont let others fuss her through the witre either - its her zone, and her private place for looking and relaxing only. Not a punishment.
I would (if I could) ignore anything chewed - and blame it on myself for not being quick enough with her. Tying her to your belt can only be good, I got my little Border Terrier out of his hate of my cats this way... but I dont understand why she wouldnt like it, is she perhaps not in tune with you perfectly yet, most GSD`s would love to be tied to their owners...
I would be taking her out at least three times daily, and spend time off and on lead with her, running her, cycling with her, ball playing, giving her challenges i.e. 2 people, one hides in treelined safe area, she has to find them from a whistle.... obedience exercises with food as a reward ... things to exercise her mind and body at once.
I would look at her meals , what food do you feed her and when?
She needs the whole holistic job, as she sounds well screwed up in her little mind.
Have patience with her.
Think if you had moved from a humble house with no joys - to a palace with all the joys you wanted... you would abuse some of them, and thats where she is I think coming from Mo.
by melba on 30 December 2010 - 13:12
I agree with all that has been posted, especially about exercise requirements and moving her crate. I would just like to add that starting roadwork alongside a bicycle may also be a helpful outlet for some energy. Nothing too strenuous at first because she is young, but getting her used to trotting with a bike over short distances to start may not be a bad idea.
Melissa
Melissa
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